2023 Asian Athletics Championships

 

Southeast Asian athletes had a successful campaign at the recently concluded Asian Athletics Championships 2023 held in Bangkok, Thailand from July 12 to 16.

The competition was dominated by Japan that collected 16 gold medals followed by China with 8 golds and India with six gold medals.

Leading our Southeast Asian athletes was Veronica Shanti Pereira of Singapore who raked two gold medals in the century dash and in the 200m run. Aside from winning gold medals, the fastest women in Asia established new national record and new meet record.

Pereira posted 11.20s in the 100m run, a new Singapore record and 22.70s in the women's 200m to set a new Asian Championships record.

Meanwhile, Philippines also recorded two gold medals courtesy of Robyn Lauren Brown in the women's 400m hurdles with a time of 57.50s and from 2024 Paris Olympic qualifier Ernest John Obiena in the men's pole vault. Obiena who was favorite to win the gold medal set a new meet record of 5.91m.

Vietnam also snatched a gold medal in the women's 4x400m relay run. The team is composed of Thi Ngoc Nguyen, Thi Minh Hanh Hoang, Thi Huyen Nguyen and Thi Hang Nguyen who clocked 3:32.36.

 

Host Thailand did not fail their supporters by clinching the lobe gold medal in the men's 4x100m relay event. Natawat Iamudom, Soraoat Dapbang, Chayut Khongprasit and Puripol Boonson clocked 38.55s and established a new meet record. 

Asude from the mentioned gold medalists, some of our Southeast Asian athletes also won medals in this Asian championships. These are Tawan Kaeodam of Thailand (men's high jump - bronze); Muhammad Irfan Bin Shamshuddin of Malaysia (men's discus throw - bronze) and Sutthisak Singkhon of Thailand (men's decathlon - silver).

 

In the women's side, Nguyễn Thị Hường of Vietnam (triple jump - bronze), Chayanisa Chomchuendee of Thailand (pole vault - bronze), Subenrat Insaeng of Thailand (discus throw - bronze) and Thailand's Supawan Thipat, Supanich Poolkerd, On-Uma Chattha and Athicha Phetkun in the 4x100m run (bronze).

 

Philippines and Singapore shared in 6th place in the medal tally while host Thailand ended in 10th place, Vietnam in 13th and Malaysia in 17th place.

The 24th edition of the Asian Athletics Championships was held at Supachalasai National Stadium that featured 45 events participated by more than 40 Asian countries.